Japanese professional baseball players are threatening to boycott the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a revenue deal giving two-thirds of the proceeds to MLB and players union, and only 13 percent to them. The split is unfair, they say, because the event is popular in Asia and derives a lot of the $18 million […]
Tag Archives | mlb
The first pro baseball team to sport uniform sponsor logos? Rockford
This, to the best of our knowledge, is a first: the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) are wearing uniform sponsor logos for every game, in a straight sale of sponsorship rights. We’re not counting auto racing, golf or MLS soccer and don’t want to embark on a discussion of whether these are major sports; for the […]
New Astros uniforms: Bring back the orange!
The Houston Astros will have new uniforms for 2013, and owner Jim Crane says they’ll be bringing back colors of the past — and given team history, we’re thinking orange. Crane told the Houston Chronicle “some of the colors in the past” would be part of a new design, chosen after months of design and focus-group testing: “We’ve […]
Winners and losers in the 2012 MLB attendance stats
MLB attendance is up 4.2 percent this season over last, but there are some surprising laggards at the box office this season — though it doesn’t seem to matter whether a team wins or loses. The convention wisdom on the MLB level is that it matters at the box office whether a team is winning […]
MLB looking to alter interleague play to curtail rivalries: report
A scheduling reconfiguration in 2013 made necessary by the move of the Houston Astros to the American League could change the two annual rivalry series so popular at the box office. ESPNNewYork.com is reporting the shift, part of the move to permanent interleague play in 2013 when there are 15 teams in each league. Right […]
Is Bakersfield on cusp of new ballpark?
The sale of the Bakersfield Blaze (High Class A; California League) is in final stages of MLB approval — which means speculation about the team’s next phase, a new ballpark, is close to beginning. It’s an open secret in MiLB circles that the sale of the team included plans for a new privately financed ballpark, […]
Today’s A’s/Giants update: nothing new
It’s maybe the most closely watched business issue in MLB these days, but there’s nothing new in the battle between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants over San Jose. The New York Times had a nice report on the state of affairs in the A’s/Giants standoff: the A’s want San Jose, the Giants control […]
Astros to bring backs Colt .45s jersey this season
To mark the team’s 50th anniversary, the ever-colorful Houston Astros will be bringing back Houston Colt .45 jerseys for two April games and sport other retro unis throughout the year. The team will don the jerseys at their April 10 and April 20 games at Minute Maid Park. The jersey, worn when the team was […]
Moorad withdraws application to buy Padres
Faced with reported opposition from other MLB owners, Jeff Moorad has withdrawn his application to buy the San Diego Padres — a move that could prove to be merely temporary. The issue, as reported in a Padres press release, was a desire by the team to expedite the finalizing of the team’s new broadcast deal […]
Seven groups still in running for Dodgers
Seven groups remain in the running to land the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium, as two groups were eliminated from the proceedings. The Los Angeles Times has a summary of the groups remaining: Of the nine parties still in contention last week, the two eliminated Monday were Michael Heisley, owner of the NBA’s Memphis […]
New for 2013: Estadio Sonora
A noteworthy ballpark south of the border designed to host the Caribbean Series, the Hermosillo Naranjeros and potentially some MLB exhibitions or World Baseball Classic games: Estadio Sonora. The new 15,000-seat ballpark will replace Hector Espino Stadium as home of pro baseball in the Mexican city. It’s a city that’s supported baseball: the Arizona Diamondbacks have […]
Dodgers sale complicated by McCourt’s decision to keep land surrounding ballpark
The decision by Frank McCourt to hang onto the parking lots and land surrounding Dodger Stadium is already complicating the sale of the team and caused one high-profile group to withdraw from the bidding process. Developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre decided to pass on bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers and […]
Suns: Nationals forcing us to move from Hagerstown
The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) say they’re leaving Municipal Stadium because of pressure from parent Washington Nationals; meanwhile, Winchester residents aren’t thrilled about new-ballpark plans. While it’s been no secret the Suns have been in play for several months now, majority owner Bruce Quinn says his group needs a new home for […]